The open discussions that goes on back and forth between the two gave an open room for the reader to discuss and argue on their own on the topic at hand. There were times where it is very clear that she does not agree with the Sheik’s view on certain topics, and she does not hesitate in voicing that opinions but was also open to the Sheikh’s explanations, so as not to be judgemental. I really enjoyed the author’s writing very much and appreciate her candor in voicing her opinions. The most interesting part was the The World, as it encompasses everything there is. The Home was a bit hard for me to digest, as the topic clashes a lot with how myself have understood Islam, however small it is.

The Origin lay the groundwork in understanding Islam and the Quran, I found myself nodding along the lines, agreeing alternately on how the Sheikh and the author explain and understand Islam. The book is divided into three parts The Origin, The Home, and The World. It is such a page turner, even when it gets a bit redundant at times. The journey took them all the way from London to the Sheikh’s hometown in Lucknow, covering the topics about the world right down to the most personal discussion of the loss of their parents.ĭespite my initial disappointment of this book (on hindsight, it could have been blamed on me, because my initial prediction of this book is far off), I think this has been a brilliant and fascinating book for me. The book is the results of the author’s discussion with her friend,Sheikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi, after a yearlong journey through the Quran. This is a book about someone who wants to know more, who loves to discuss, who wants to understand without prejudice, who wants to be a part of something that is foreign from them ultimately this book is about learning, whether it be about Quran, Islam, acceptance, tolerance, or simply about life. If you think this is a book about Quran, I’m not going to say that you are wrong, but you are most definitely not right either. Learning should come from understanding properly, not from being forced. Anybody who forces people to change their beliefs, they are not a teacher.

If the Oceans Were Ink by Carla Power